Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1887-03-27
hospitals AND NEEsEs.

There are no more eloquent signs Of
the spresd Of eaItare and haDaaitsgS-
anism in the world. than 10 the vide
diaasion Of those temples Of tenderness
sad soIisitads, which pass By the name
Of Hospitals. The uord itself Is sigBih- l
csnt Of the courtesy which ebarseaeEizss
il miBistrants, foF in its original mean |
ina = hospital IL place where guests
are entertained Entertained bat
hov? With the feast asd reveIry with
which one associates the entertaining
Of Ruest in an ordinary mansiong No.
For blaEe Of trumpsts there Is here
silence. sHd 10 the place Of the mszy
dance, everybody in the hospital moves
q boat With hushed tread.
The fact Of the matter is, that the
majority Of the guests Who repair 10
these places come for quiet and seciu-
sion, not for noise and fsstivity. Sick
ness seems TO redncs humanity TO one
dead level, and operating 30 mysterious
ly on the repression Of the vital forces
makes ns long for rest, quietness and
peace.
There are many 90 called philsn-
thFspic institutions in the world, bat
nons are suffering humanity's friends
TO the extent hospitals are. They are
the dispensers of q bsunty which Ia
never stinted. and the only passport re-
snired 70 be admitted - their privileges
10 TO be siek and suffering. Hospitals
are Of many Underground and specific
-and among their various founders and
patterns. number kings and the great
ones Of the earth. Many an evil life
has been thoaght TO be sttonsd for BY
the endowment Of . hospital or charity.
and many Ruilt-laden soul has sped to
It's Maker FeioieinR. In the hope that
last act Of restitution 10 humanity.
would cancel the sins Of . life time.
Pioas Edward the Sixth founded three
hospitals in one day. all Of which are
HouFishing institutions at the present
time. One Of the largest hospitals We
ever knew had over 500 beds In il, none
Of vhioh. strange 10 say, vas ever sup
posed 70 De tenantsd by . sick inmate.
There are hospitals. too, for fOundlings.
OF which sort Of institution the immor-
tai Captain Coram is patron saint. In
ihis country, however. the general
uses Of q hospital are for the
frisHdless aud INDECENT sick. How
admirably these uses are sabserved
probably only those who have occupied
coach in an infirmary know. Not
only are the latest discoveries in msdi-
cine and science brought into daily
reqHisition, for the alienation Of paiR,
bat the sick are treated with . gentle
ness and skill not inferior 10 what
their own mothers would LAVISH on them.
The hospital nurse Is an elodimeut OF
all the Christian virtues. Hers Is the
hand that smooths so deity the suf
ferer's pillow, has the ear ever on the
alert to catch the slightest wish Of the
pain tossed. And how the sedate but
kindly oountenances OF thess hospital
nurses harmonic with the qqiet Of the
siok chamber.
"ro sOorn delights aud live laborious
days" was never said Of any class Of
persons 80 truly a. Of this heroic, en-
selhsh minisierinR sislerhOod.
Some Of our strongest convictions are
quite unLcoountable. and one OF the
most persistent, aud at the same time
illogical. OF these IL, that the manner
aud circumstances OF our going out Of
the world, will influence our reception
in the next. OF course. II is pleas ut IL
cross the dark river from the portals of
our ancestral home, With hands OF sis
ter. Of mother or OF children 10 lead u
70 its brink. But falling such q happy
deathbed scene as this, rather than set
out on the mysterious journey among
strangers, We would take leave OF this
world In the ward Of hospital. Il vas
some such feeling ss this which ami
mated ThaekeFay's great hero TO spend
bis last days In the CaFthnsiau alns
house. Rather than be beholden 10 the
hospitality Of strangers. the ehivalrous
Indian oftioeF thoueht IL wtald be more
Becoming the dignity OF bis character.
% pass cot of this world 10 the robss Of
humble brother OF the ChArterhsuss.
In his mastery treatment Of very deli
case situation. ThackerAy exhibited =
nicety OF taste aAd fsithfGlness to ma
turs. surpassed nowhere 10 Aetioa. Il
is fallacy 30 suppose that the habitaAI
contemplation Of Suffering renders the
sensibilities proof to lie Aeutsness;
quite the contrary. II 10 those who
have had most experience OF the panes
and tortarss Of the suffering. Who
hearts are the readiest open 90 the masi-
testations Of them.
Dos anybody suppose that the sx.
Pefisnee OF . score OF battle helds, has
dullea the sensibiliIies Of a Florence
Nightingale 10 the agoniss Of the dyis
sOlaiesl However, perhaps the greatest
compliment that vas ever paid 10 the
skill Of tie ser A. narses. is contained
in the linss Of Sir walter Scott. on the
oCeAsioH OF the death Of Lsrd Marmiou.
BY quoting which - appropriately elOse
this paper
- woman in our konrs Of ease,
Uncertain. GOV, aud hard 10 please,
A DtuistsFtug Aagei thoa.
When gain ana an0uish wiring thy
bros"
ARE Nor LEFT.mANBEn-